Do Not Fear

Just about everyone I know has struggled with fear on some level. It seems to be quite common these days. Whether it is the fear of being alone or the fear of the unknown future that looms ahead, it is very likely that most people have dealt with it, or are dealing with it now.

I'll admit that I have certain fears that keep plaguing me. I know the Lord is protecting me, but I still have my moments. So I decided to do something  about it.

I am currently in the process of looking up scriptures dealing with fear and writing them in a notebook. I've titled it "Removing Fear." You could say I'm researching it, except the Bible is the only source I'm using, so the works cited page would be short if it were for a class. It's not, though; I graduated and I have no desire for another degree.

But I digress....

Because of this research, don't be surprised if some posts on the subject pop up some in the coming weeks and months.

I came across an interesting account of a battle in 2 Chronicles the other day, and I can't quit thinking about it. It's where Jehoshaphat learned of 3 armies headed his way to fight against him, and he was afraid. He asked the Lord for help, and the Lord spoke to him through Jahaziel, saying:

"Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's...

You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on our behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem."

You can go and read all about it in 2 Chronicles 20. I won't quote the whole thing here, but basically Jehoshaphat and the people went to the place where God had told them to go to watch, but they were not to fight. As they sang praises to God, they watched the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come to make war with Jehoshaphat, turn on each other instead. After the battle, none of the enemies had survived. Not one.

The enemies destroyed themselves in this battle! The inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem did not lift a finger but watched them all turn on each other.

Jehoshaphat and his people gathered up all the spoil (the valuables that the armies had brought) and it took them 3 days to get all of it! Three days!

I don't know about you, but reading about this battle has encouraged me so much. 

"The battle is not yours, but God's." 2 Chronicles 20:15 NASB

Praise the LORD!

Plans and Promises

We have had major flooding in my area over the last couple of weeks. Many people's homes were flooded and some lost everything. It has been devastating. As the flood waters have started to recede, the clean up process has begun but it will be a long time before things are back to normal around here.

As if we didn't have enough water, we've just had several days of torrential downpours. On top of the major flooding we have endured, flash flooding has been occurring the last couple of days. It seemed there was no end in sight.

Last night at sunset, as the rain clouds finally started to clear and move on out of our area, there was a beautiful rainbow in the eastern sky. I saw pictures of the whole rainbow on social media last night, but in the area where I live there are so many trees that I can see very little of the sky from my yard. I was sitting on the porch enjoying the cool breeze, when I started to notice an orange glow through the trees to the east. I was curious about what this could be, so I went out into the street to see what it was. 

I stepped into the street and saw a breathtakingly beautiful rainbow. The picture here does not do it justice. The colors were brilliant and stunning. I ran to the back yard to see if I could see the other end of it, but I could only see tiny bits here and there through the trees. I was just happy that I got to see some of it; I usually miss these things because I tend to stay in the house all the time. I was glad I risked being on the mosquito buffet yesterday evening; it was worth it to see this reminder of one of God's promises.

This made me realize that this is how we see God's plan for us. He sees the entire plan from beginning to end; we only see a fragment. We can't tell where God is going with this current situation we are in. "What are you up to?" we often ask Him. Because we can't see the whole plan, it doesn't always make sense to us. 

This scripture came to me during my prayer time this morning. It seems very timely; I've prayed along these lines many times during physical and other types of storms. God has always taken care of me: 

"Hear my cry, O God, give heed to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah." Psalm 61:1-4 NASB

It is uncanny that I stumbled across a scripture talking about higher ground when so many were scrambling for just that in the last couple of weeks. I know it isn't necessarily literal, though. It serves as a reminder to me that when we put our trust in God, He is always guiding and protecting us. Whether the enemy happens to be raging flood waters or some other type of disaster in our lives, He is always with us.

I am encouraged today because of the reminders of God's promises; both in the sky and in His word. I hope you are, too.

Do Not Anxiously Look About

For a time, I stopped writing in my blog; not on purpose but because I thought no one wanted to read it anyway. I felt like I had nothing to say.

Yes, I have been in a battle and was beginning to believe nothing would ever change, and nothing I would say to anyone would do any good. Might as well stop trying to pretend I write.

Tonight, though, for the first time in months, I can't shake the feeling that many around me are discouraged and even afraid of what is ahead in their lives, just like I am sometimes. Some are falling into depression and despondency. Having spent many years depressed and discouraged, I get it. 

I was struggling earlier tonight, once again actually fighting the urge to give in to the lies of the enemy that said to me nothing will ever be different. You are always going to fight depression. You will never win. You are of no use to anyone.

Yeah, I admit it; I do still hear that sometimes. It doesn't last long anymore, but it does happen. I get up and go on like I have done for years now. The difference lately, though, is this: I had stopped writing about my struggles and victories. 

So I would like to say back to the LIAR in writing, for all to read: the very fact that I recognize it's a lie of the enemy proves that I will overcome and win this battle. There is HOPE. There were many days, weeks, and years that I believed the lies and merely existed, miserable, alone, and afraid.

Those days are behind me. Now, instead of spiraling down into sadness and discouragement that lasts for weeks and even months, I have learned to shut out the lies and listen to my Father's voice.

It's really quite simple. Here is what I do. As soon as it occurs to me that I'm being tempted to believe a lie, I put on some worship music. Right away the atmosphere is better, because the darkness cannot stay in the presence of the Light. The enemy will not stick around when you're praising the Lord. He hates worship. He will "skedaddle," as we say in the south.

The next thing I do is open up my Bible and find some of God's words that contradict the lies I have just heard. Once I find it, I read it out loud. Over time, we tend to start believing what we hear ourselves say, so it's important to say it out loud, at least in the beginning of this part of your faith walk.

Recently, during a fierce thunderstorm, I was attacked by fear. I'm not talking about being a little afraid of a storm. We're talking being irrationally fearful and panicked. When I realized what I was dealing with, I cried out to the Lord to help me. Instantly, these words came to me: Do not anxiously look about you (I was doing this very thing).

I recognized that scripture immediately because I've read it many times. I turned to Isaiah 41:10 and read these words:

"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Instantly I had peace, and I knew I was going to be all right. 

Even if you are skeptical and are wondering if it really is possible to overcome the spirit of fear, depression, or feelings of worthlessness, what do you have to lose? 

Just your fear. Just your depression. Just your feelings of worthlessness.

Try it. 

Be encouraged. The Lord is with you. Call out to Him and He will answer.

You are going to get through this; you and me both.